Law firms including Allen & Overy, Pinsent Masons and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner have increased the salaries for their newly qualified (NQ) lawyers in the UK in response to NQ salary surges in the US.

A survey run by the Law Society’s Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) found that nearly 80% of respondents had gained some unpaid legal work experience, but that fewer than half believed that their experiences had benefited their career prospects.

Aspiring Solicitors, launched in November 2013 by former Norton Rose Fulbright associate, Chris White, has recently gained support from a number of high-profile law firms.

Not on quite the same scale as the desperate times of 2009, but a couple of firms have recently been asking their future trainees to defer their places in exchange for a cash payment, citing "business activity levels" as the reason.

Six more firms are now taking applications for training contracts and vacation schemes through Apply4Law:

A Rugby Union team's worth of firms – that's 15 for those averse to heads jammed in armpits – have opened applications for training contracts, vacation schemes and the odd open day through Apply4Law.

Three firms are now taking applications for training contracts and vacation schemes through the Apply4Law online application system, while a fourth – Kingsley Napley – has opened applications for training contracts only.

Online application system provider Apply4Law reports that several of its client firms have opened their 2013 summer vacation scheme forms.

Staff at international disputes firm Hausfeld have been told they can work from home until at least the end of the year. This announcement comes after the practice acknowledged that many employees are not willing to commute into the office via public transport until there is a covid-19 vaccine. 

Well-heeled firm Hogan Lovells has been instrumental in a deal which sees luxury shoe company, Jimmy Choo, sold to a privately held Austrian company, Labelux.

A number of firms' work placement schemes have been shortlisted for the annual National Council for Work Experience Awards.

Nabarro LLP, Simmons & Simmons and Slater & Gordon have been singled out for praise at the National Council for Work Experience Awards 2013, marking them out as some of the UK's best internship providers.

While a number of big firms have begun to recall furloughed staff as coronavirus lockdown measures begin to ease, the year ahead remains uncertain for hundreds of solicitors.

Baker McKenzie has become the latest firm to reinstate newly qualified (NQ) lawyers’ salaries to pre-pandemic levels, after a reduction of 3% last June. Meanwhile, Irwin Mitchell is expecting to open its 15 offices at 50% capacity from 21 June. 

Firms have called for Prime Minister Boris Johnson to make reporting of ethnicity pay gaps mandatory. In a letter to the Telegraph, firms have urged Johnson to make the transition from voluntary to mandatory for organisations with more than 250 employees.

Law firms and their staff have been putting in extraordinary efforts to support their local communities during the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports.

A host of firms have revealed their autumn trainee retention figures – meaning the number of trainees who secure permanent positions at the firm once they qualify as solicitors. 

Law firms across the country have released their trainee retention figures for September 2012.